Power compensator for cellular communication base station

Abstract

A power compensator for use in a cellular communication base station includes a voltage booster and an adaptive voltage boost controller. The voltage booster is coupled between a first port and a second port to apply a voltage boost to a power signal to generate a compensated power signal that is provided to a remote radio unit (RRU) of the base station. The adaptive voltage boost controller is configured to control the voltage boost applied by the voltage booster to compensate for a voltage loss across the power cable between the power compensator and the RRU. In operation, the adaptive voltage boost controller determines a value of the voltage boost to be applied by the voltage booster based on temperature data and electrical current sample data. The adaptive voltage boost controller then sends a control signal to the voltage booster to adjust the voltage boost based on the determined value.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A power compensator for use in a cellular communication base station, the power compensator comprising:
 a first port to be coupled to a power supply of the base station to receive a power signal generated by the power supply for powering a remote radio unit (RRU) of the base station; 
 a second port to be coupled to a power cable connected to the RRU to provide a compensated power signal to the RRU; 
 a voltage booster coupled between the first port and the second port to apply a voltage boost to the power signal to generate the compensated power signal; and 
 an adaptive voltage boost controller coupled to the voltage booster to control the voltage boost applied by the voltage booster to compensate for a voltage loss across the power cable between the second port and the RRU, wherein the adaptive voltage boost controller comprises:
 at least one processor; and 
 at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor, the at least one memory having instructions stored therein, which when executed by the at least one processor, direct the adaptive voltage boost controller to:
 receive temperature data representative of an ambient temperature of the base station; 
 receive electrical current sample data obtained via a current sensor disposed along the power cable; 
 determine a value of the voltage boost to be applied by the voltage booster based on the temperature data and the electrical current sample data; and 
 send a control signal from the adaptive voltage boost controller to the voltage booster to adjust the voltage boost based on the determined value. 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The power compensator of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions to receive the temperature data comprises instructions to receive the temperature data from one or more temperature sensors disposed proximate to the base station. 
     
     
       3. The power compensator of  claim 1 , where the instructions to receive the temperature data comprises instructions to receive the temperature data from one or more weather service servers indicating a current ambient temperature of a region associated with the base station. 
     
     
       4. The power compensator of  claim 1 , wherein the memory further comprises instructions to direct the adaptive voltage boost controller to:
 determine a reference resistance of the power cable at a reference temperature for a total length of the power cable between the second port and the RRU; and 
 calculate an adjusted resistance of the power cable based on the temperature data and the reference resistance, wherein the instructions to determine the value of the voltage boost to be applied by the voltage booster includes instructions to determine the value further based on the adjusted resistance of the power cable. 
 
     
     
       5. The power compensator of  claim 4 , wherein the instructions to calculate the adjusted resistance of the power cable includes instructions to calculate the adjusted resistance based on:
     R   C   =R   0 (1+ K ( T   C   =T   o )), 
 
       where R C  is the adjusted resistance, R 0  is the reference resistance, K is a constant representing a rate of change in resistance of the power cable per change in degree of the ambient temperature, T C  is the ambient temperature, and T O  is the reference temperature. 
     
     
       6. The power compensator of  claim 5 , wherein the instructions to determine the value of the voltage boost comprises instructions to determine the value of the voltage boost based on:
     V   C   R   C   *I−V   S , 
 
       wherein V C  is the value of the voltage boost, R C  is adjusted resistance of the power cable, I is the electrical current sample data, and V S  is a voltage value of the power signal generated at the first port. 
     
     
       7. The power compensator of  claim 1 , wherein the current sensor comprises a Hall Effect Sensor. 
     
     
       8. The power compensator of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage booster comprises a Direct Current (DC) to DC power converter configured to increase a DC voltage of the power signal to generate the compensated power signal. 
     
     
       9. The power compensator of  claim 8 , wherein the DC to DC power converter comprises a switched-mode power supply, wherein the control signal directs the switched-mode power supply to adjust at least one of: a switching frequency of the switched-mode power supply or a duty cycle of the switched-mode power supply. 
     
     
       10. A computer-implemented method for use with a power compensator of a cellular communication base station, the method comprising:
 receiving, at the power compensator, a power signal generated by a power supply of the base station, the power signal generated by the power supply for powering a remote radio unit (RRU) of the base station; 
 applying a voltage boost to the power signal to generate a compensated power signal; 
 providing the compensated power signal to the RRU via a power cable coupled between the power compensator and the RRU, wherein applying the voltage boost to the power signal comprises:
 receiving temperature data representative of an ambient temperature of the base station; 
 receiving electrical current sample data obtained via a current sensor disposed along the power cable; and 
 determining a value of the voltage boost to be applied to the power signal based on the temperature data and the electrical current sample data. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The computer-implemented method of  claim 10 , wherein receiving the temperature data comprises receiving the temperature data from one or more temperature sensors disposed proximate to the base station. 
     
     
       12. The computer-implemented method of  claim 10 , wherein receiving the temperature data comprises receiving the temperature data from one or more weather service servers indicating a current ambient temperature of a region associated with the base station. 
     
     
       13. The computer-implemented method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 determining a reference resistance of the power cable at a reference temperature for a total length of the power cable between the power compensator and the RRU; and 
 calculating an adjusted resistance of the power cable based on the temperature data and the reference resistance, wherein determining the value of the voltage boost includes determining the value further based on the adjusted resistance of the power cable. 
 
     
     
       14. The computer-implemented method of  claim 13 , wherein calculating the adjusted resistance of the power cable includes calculating the adjusted resistance based on:
     R   C   =R   0 (1+ K ( T   C   −T   o )), 
 
       where R C  is the adjusted resistance, R 0  is the reference resistance, K is a constant representing a rate of change in resistance of the power cable per change in degree of the ambient temperature, T C  is the ambient temperature, and T O  is the reference temperature. 
     
     
       15. The computer-implemented method of  claim 14 , wherein determining the value of the voltage boost comprises determining the value of the voltage boost based on:
     V   C   R   C   *I−V   S , 
 
       wherein V C  is the value of the voltage boost, R C  is the adjusted resistance of the power cable, I is the electrical current sample data, and V S  is a voltage value of the power signal. 
     
     
       16. The computer-implemented method of  claim 10 , wherein the current sensor comprises a Hall Effect Sensor. 
     
     
       17. The computer-implemented method of  claim 10 , wherein applying the voltage boost to the power signal to generate the compensated power signal comprises adjusting a switching frequency or duty cycle of a switched-mode power supply. 
     
     
       18. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor of a power compensator of a cellular communication base station, direct the power compensator to:
 receive, at the power compensator, a power signal generated by a power supply of the base station, the power signal generated by the power supply for powering a remote radio unit (RRU) of the base station; 
 apply a voltage boost to the power signal to generate a compensated power signal; 
 provide the compensated power signal to the RRU via a power cable coupled between the power compensator and the RRU, wherein the instructions to apply the voltage boost to the power signal comprises instructions to:
 receive temperature data representative of an ambient temperature of the base station; 
 receive electrical current sample data obtained via a current sensor disposed along the power cable; and 
 determine a value of the voltage boost to be applied to the power signal based on the temperature data and the electrical current sample data. 
 
 
     
     
       19. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 18 , further comprising instructions to:
 determine a reference resistance of the power cable at a reference temperature for a total length of the power cable between the power compensator and the RRU; and 
 calculate an adjusted resistance of the power cable based on the temperature data and the reference resistance, wherein determining the value of the voltage boost includes determining the value further based on the adjusted resistance of the power cable. 
 
     
     
       20. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 18 , wherein the instructions to calculate the adjusted resistance of the power cable includes instructions to calculate the adjusted resistance based on:
     R   C   =R   0 (1+ K ( T   C   −T   o )), 
 
       where R C  is the adjusted resistance, R 0  is the reference resistance, K is a constant representing a rate of change in resistance of the power cable per change in degree of the ambient temperature, T C  is the ambient temperature, and T O  is the reference temperature.